MONTROSE — David Mitchel Mebane, M.D., longtime Montrose resident, passed away at Montrose Memorial Hospital on the afternoon of July 4, 2008, at the age of 79. His family was by his side in the hospital where he had practiced medicine for 32 years.
David, one of five children, was born on April 14, 1929 in Vernon, Texas to David M. Mebane Sr. and Ida Virginia (Black) Mebane. He spent his childhood in Bryan, Texas, graduating from Bryan High School. His father died when he was 4 years old and he lost his mother when he was 14. With the assistance of their grandparents, his sisters Lucille and Mary helped raise their siblings.
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Dr. Mebane was in the emergency room at Parkland on that fateful day when President Kennedy and Gov. John Connally were shot. Although the president was beyond help, Dr. Mebane assisted in saving Governor Connally's life.
David started his practice in Montrose in 1964, with his first office being in the old St. Luke’s Hospital building. In 1970 he moved to 224 S. Nevada, where he worked until retiring in March 1996.
He was Board Certified in Surgery in February 1973. He was a member of AMC (American College of Surgeons), Colorado Medical Society, American Medical Society and SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons). He was Chief of Staff at Montrose Memorial Hospital from 1981-82 and served for several years with the San Juan Healthcare Foundation. He was the recipient of the Fall Clinics Honors in 1994.
David married Bonnie Stagg Adams on Feb. 21, 1971 in Ball, La. She was no doubt the love of his life. When they were married he told her, “I can really only promise you one thing. You will never have a dull, boring life.” She states that he was right about that.
With their blended families, the couple raised six children and enjoyed the love of 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
David wanted the world to know that his priorities in life were family, medicine and agriculture, in that order. A few days before his death, he told hospital personnel, “I can’t imagine anyone having a fuller, more exciting life. I’ve had the most interesting, fulfilling life anyone could have. I was in medicine in a great time.”
He and Bonnie owned Mebane Red Angus and Mebane Farms. Raising hay and cattle proved to be a relaxing diversion from his life at the hospital. Upon retirement, farming and ranching became a second full-time career. He became a member of the Uncompahgre Valley Cattlemen’s Association, IETS (International Embryo Transfer Society), RAAA (Red Angus Association of America), APPPA (American Pasture Poultry Producers Association), the Riverside Grange and Montrose Botanical Society.
He held a Master Gardener’s Certification from Colorado State University, was honored with the Outstanding Conservation Rancher’s award by the Shavano Soil Conservation in 1985 and presented the Goodyear/NACO Conservation Award in 1996. He and Bonnie were regulars at the Montrose Farmers Market for several summers, selling their “pasture-ized” eggs and chickens.
David will forever be remembered by his family and friends for being dedicated, loving, dependable, very intelligent, an avid reader and great conversationalist. He was a history buff who loved Thomas Jefferson and always admired John Wayne. He was definitely a gentleman, honest, non-hypercritical, witty and very, very tough. Everything he did, he did with gusto. Children and grandchildren loved the way he joked, sang, kissed and hugged.
His hobbies included fly fishing, bird watching and international travel. He attended countless conventions—both medical and agricultural, taking along the family. He and Bonnie enjoyed three different six-week stints of medical volunteer work in St. Lucia. Bonnie said, “Did I mention that he was fun? Just so much fun!”
In addition to his wife, Bonnie, David is survived by sons, Tad Mebane of Grand Junction, David Mebane III (Heike) of Santa Barbara, Calif., Brad (Michelle) Adams, Moscow Idaho, and Perry Adams of Montrose; daughters, Mary and Elizabeth Mebane of Montrose, and former daughter-in-law, Cynthia Cox Mebane of Montrose. He is also survived by his father-in-law, Basil Stagg, Montrose; brothers, William (Joan) Mebane, Shorthills, N.J., and Morris (Lucy) Mebane, Waco, Texas; grandchildren, Sarah (Lee) Waltrip, Jessica Mebane, Kate Mebane, Shiler, Ranger, Orrin and Zane Adams, Stephanie Bestland, Jodi and Taylor Adams and Samuel Mebane; great-grandchildren, Alexis and Ozrik Waltrip and Keegan Bestland.
In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his sisters, Lucille Scott and Mary Beard, and mother-in-law, Olive Stagg.
A visitation for David’s family and friends was held Tuesday, July 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Crippin Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral service will be Wednesday, July 9, at 10 a.m., at Grace Community Church, 16731 Woodgate Road, with Pastors Bryan Yeager and Calvin Schwarz officiating. Burial will follow at Grand View Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory.
Flowers will be welcomed or contributions can be made to Grace Community Church; Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81401; local 4-H Clubs; or Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 5022, Hagerstown, MD, 21741-5022.
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